A day after news broke that Michigan appears likely to be charged with several major violations related to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing case, former Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh took a defiant stance.

Harbaugh, who left to become head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers after leading Michigan to a national championship last season, has repeatedly denied knowledge of Stalions’ sign-stealing scheme. Harbaugh was among several current or former Wolverines staffers named in an NCAA Notice of Allegations draft that surfaced Sunday, but told reporters Monday he “did not participate” In any sign-stealing activity.

“Never lie. Never cheat. Never steal. I was raised with that lesson,” Harbaugh said, via Daniel Popper of The Athletic. “I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams I’ve coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right.

“Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations. So for me, it’s back to work and attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

Harbaugh served a pair of three-game suspensions during the 2023 season, the first for recruiting violations unrelated to sign-stealing, the second after the Stalions scandal surfaced in November. According to a report by ESPN, he is expected to be charged with a Level I NCAA violation, albeit for failure to cooperate with the investigation rather than for any evidence of wrongdoing.

Stalions was fired/resigned from his job as a Michigan offensive analyst in November, after reports surfaced that he helped organize a well-funded, complex, multi-state operation to steal signals from future Wolverines opponents by sitting in the stands or gaining sideline access at games. Stalions — or representatives whose access he had arranged — would reportedly use smart phones to record video of team’s signals (which is against NCAA rules) in hopes of later deciphering them for use when they played Michigan.

In addition to Harbaugh and Stalions, current Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore — offensive coordinator for the Wolverines last season — is named in the NCAA Notice of Allegations draft along with four former assistant coaches or support staff members. Moore is accused of deleting a thread of 52 text messages to and from Stalions, and could reportedly face a suspension as a “repeat violator” of NCAA rules after he admitted last year to recruiting during the 2020 COVID dead period.

Netflix is expected to release “Sign Stealer,” a documentary on the Stalions case, on Aug. 27.